Portstone June Newsletter

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June, the beginning of winter, the beginning of the calmest month. Roses are in store this month. Browse through our Rose Catalogue to choose what you want.  They are all excellent quality, two year old, grafted roses, disease resistant and guaranteed to perform.
Our roses have already been pruned when you purchase them but for existing roses in your garden prune anytime now until end of July.  Right after pruning spray with Conqueror oil to seal the fresh cuts as this is where air borne disease enter the plant. Avoid pruning in very damp or drizzly weather as this can increase the chance of disease.  Next spray with copper which is a fungal preventative.  Wallys Liquid Copper is the easiest to use .  The oil and copper can be mixed together but maybe slightly less effective.
Lily Bulbs are instore and its time to plant them.  There is a wide range of colours in both Oriental and Asiatic varieties.  Some are wonderfully fragrant too. Plant in free draining soil (if its boggy, the bulbs will rot) in sun or semi shade. Feed with bulb food, sulphate of potash, or bone meal. Lift dahlia tubers now and store them in the shed until September.
Garlic can be planted anytime through May, June and even into early July.  Plant the big fat outside cloves in order to get big fat bulbs later on, and use the smaller inside cloves in the kitchen. Plant 2-3cm deep and 10cm apart, into soil with good drainage. Don't be tempted to plant supermarket garlic as this maybe treated with chemicals to prevent it sprouting.
Feed the wild birds through winter.  We have an extensive range of bird feeders to hang in trees plus decorative hooks and brackets for hanging the feeders elsewhere. There is also a nectar feeder for Bellbirds, Waxeyes and Tui.  This feeder has a patented Bee guard which prevents bees and wasps reaching the sugar water. We also have various seed mixes to go with them.
Flower Garden. Brighten up the winter flower garden with Polyanthus, Pansies, Primulas and Cyclamen. All of these can be purchased in punnets of six or singles already in flower. Feed them with dried blood to keep them strong and flowering well. Colour the shrub garden with winter flowering Ericas and Grevilleas - Easy care plants in a variety of colours
Tunnel House/Glasshouse sterilising can be done now. Basamid will clean up soil-borne fungi, soil pests, germinating weeds and nematodes. One bottle will treat nearly 10m2. This will have your greenhouse ready for spring planting.

Order your FRUIT TREES

Some varieties will sell out quickly.Ask at the counter for our Fruit Tree Catalogue.

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